Navy Study: Sonar, Blasts Might Hurt More Sea Life In CA Waters

ABOARD THE MANUTEA, CA - JANUARY 30: Bottlenose dolphins swim ahead of the bow of a boat off the southern California coast on January 30, 2012 near Dana Point, California. A coalition that includes Native American tribes, Earthjustice and the Natural Resources Defense Council is on the National Marine Fisheries Service for more protection for dolphins, whales, and other migrating marine animals from the use of sonar in training by the US Navy on the West Coast. Environmental groups argue that mid-frequency sonar alters the behavior of sound-sensitive marine life and, in some cases, causes fatal results. Some whales are believed to communicate across hundreds of miles of ocean through sound.

(File photo. Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

HONOLULU (AP) — The U.S. Navy says its use of sonar and explosives could potentially hurt more dolphins and whales in Hawaii and California waters than previously thought.

The new research and more thorough analysis are part of an environmental impact statement covering Navy training and testing planned for 2014 through 2018.

The Navy estimates its use of explosives and sonar may unintentionally cause more than 1,600 instances of hearing loss or other injury to marine mammals in one year.

Its use of explosives may inadvertently cause more than 200 marine mammal deaths a year.

The old analysis — covering 2009 through 2013 — estimated the service might unintentionally injure or kill about 100 marine mammals.

The Navy says the actual numbers would be lower because it takes steps to prevent harm to the animals.